- Today’s Scripture & Insight: Matthew 14:13-14
My mother’s first cousin was approaching her mid-nineties and her health was beginning to fail. She told my mother that she supported 25 children through the Compassion International program. She faithfully wrote each child each month. Each month each child received a letter each month with words of encouragement and love. Now she was writing each child a farewell letter because her life was drawing to a close. Although she was not able to have any children of her own, her compassion for others enabled her to be a mother to many from afar. Only in eternity will she know the effects of her compassion.
Moses’ mother had place him a waterproofed basket and placed him in the Nile River. She was literally placing the child into the hands of God for she had no control of what would happen next.
3 But when she (Moses’ mother) could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. 5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said.[1] Exodus 2:3-6
It was compassion that moved the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter to open the basket as she heard the baby’s cries. Her compassion would change the direction of Moses’ life and the Hebrew people. Our compassion for others is like throwing a pebble into a pond where the water ripples outward from where the stone fell. The effects of compassion are far reaching.
Compassion means someone else’s heartbreak becomes your heartbreak. Compassion means taking another’s suffering as your own. True compassion changes the way we live. The Bible is filled with stories of compassion and here are just two.
Matthew 14:13-14– As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. [2]
Matthew 20:29-34 -As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. [3]
Who is the Holy Spirit calling to your mind to have compassion on? How can you show the compassion of Jesus to another person in this pandemic time?
Ephesians 4:32 -Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. [4]
To hear more about the story of Moses, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-footsteps-of-moses/trusting-god-in-difficult-times
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[3,4] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.